Joint motion quality in vibroacoustic signal analysis for patients with patellofemoral joint disorders

BACKGROUND: Chondromalacia, lateral patellar compression syndrome and osteoarthritis are common patellofemoral joint disorders leading to functional and/or structural disturbances in articular surfaces. The objective of the study was to evaluate their impact on joint motion quality via the vibroacoustic signal generated during joint movement analysis. METHODS: Seventy-three patients (30 with chondromalacia, 21 with lateral patellar compression syndrome, and 22 with osteoarthritis) and 32 healthy controls were tested during flexion/extension knee motion for vibroacoustic signals using an acceleration sensor. Estimated parameters: variation of mean square (VMS), difference between mean of four maximum and mean of four minimum values (R4), power spectral density for frequency of 50–250 Hz (P1) and 250–450 Hz (P2) were analyzed. RESULTS: Vibroacoustic signals recorded for particular disorders were characterized by significantly higher values of parameters in comparison to the control group. Moreover, differences were found among the various types of patellofemoral joint disturbances. Chondromalacia and osteoarthritis groups showed differences in all parameters examined. In addition, osteoarthritis patients exhibited differences in VMS, P1 and P2 values in comparison to lateral patellar compression syndrome patients. However, only the value of R4 was found to differ between knees with lateral patellar compression syndrome and those with chondromalacia. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that particular disorders are characterized by specific vibroacoustic patterns of waveforms as well as values of analyzed parameters. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-426) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Presence of the full-length KIR2DS4 gene reduces the chance of rheumatoid arthritis patients to respond to methotrexate treatment

BACKGROUND: KIR genes coding for natural killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors, KIR, influence the effector and regulatory function of NK cells as well as some subpopulations of T lymphocytes (e.g. CD4+CD28-KIR+) depending on presence of ligands (particularly HLA-C molecules). KIR-KIR ligand interaction may lead to the development of autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, their role in the response of RA patients to methotrexate therapy is not known. METHODS: KIR genes and KIR-ligand (HLA-C C1/C2 allomorphs) genotyping was performed using the PCR-SSP method in 312 RA patients (179 classified as good responders and 133 as poor responders using DAS28 criteria). Thus, we evaluated the association of KIR genes and HLA-C allomorphs with the response to methotrexate (MTX) treatment. RESULTS: We observed that patients possessing the full-length KIR2DS4 (KIR2DS4f) gene had a lower chance of responding in comparison to KIR2DS4f-negative cases. This phenomenon was observed both in erosive disease (ED) and rheumatoid factor (RF) positive and in ED- and RF-negative patients. Interestingly, the observed effect of the KIR2DS4f gene was strongest in individuals possessing medium values (20-33 mm/h) of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Patients with high ESR values had low probability and, in contrast, patients with low ESR had a high probability of MTX response, and the presence of KIR2DS4f did not affect their outcome. Additionally, we show that the KIR2DS4f effect did not depend on the presence of either C1 or C2 allomorphs. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the response of RA patients with medium ESR values to MTX treatment may be dependent on the full-length KIR2DS4 gene

The influence of physiotherapy on the concentration of interleukin-8 in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Wstęp: Interleukina-8, chemokina produkowana przez makrofagi i komórki nabłonka, silny chemoatraktant dla neutrofili, odgrywa zasadniczą rolę w aktywacji neutrofilów i eozynofilów w drogach oddechowych u chorych na POChP i może służyć jako marker nasilenia reakcji zapalnej. Zapalenie to w przypadku pacjentów z POChP może charakteryzować się zwiększoną liczbą neutrofilów w plwocinie, a także podwyższonym stężeniem interleukiny-8. Celem niniejszej pracy było określenie wpływu fizjoterapii na stężenie interleukiny-8 w indukowanej plwocinie u chorych na POChP. Materiał i metody: Badaniami objęto 44 chorych (21 mężczyzn, 23 kobiety, średnia wieku 56,47 &#177; 9,52) leczonych w SP ZOZ Szpitalu Specjalistycznym MSWiA w Głuchołazach, usprawnianych w Dziale Usprawniania Leczniczego, z rozpoznaną POChP (wskaźnik FEV1%VC < 65%), z niezmieniającym się leczeniem farmakologicznym w trakcie fizjoterapii. U wszystkich chorych przed fizjoterapią przeprowadzono test wydolnościowy na bieżni ruchomej według zmodyfikowanego protokołu Bruce&#8217;a oraz dokonano oceny duszności na podstawie 20-punktowej skali Borga w celu kwalifikacji do fizjoterapii. U wszystkich chorych zastosowano kompleksową 3-tygodniową fizjoterapię pulmonologiczną, której podstawą był trening wydolnościowy na ergometrze rowerowym. Wielkość obciążeń treningowych dobierano indywidualnie dla każdego chorego na podstawie oceny tolerancji wysiłku. Standardowy program fizjoterapii obejmował również ćwiczenia mięśni oddechowych, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem mięśni brzucha i przepony, inhalacje z roztworu izotonicznego NaCl, drenaż ułożeniowy z oklepywaniem klatki piersiowej, relaksację oraz spacery. U wszystkich chorych oznaczono stężenie IL-8 w indukowanej plwocinie przed rozpoczęciem kompleksowej fizjoterapii i po jej zakończeniu. Stężenie IL-8 określono za pomocą testu ELISA. Wyniki: Wykazano, że stężenie interleukiny-8 było istotnie niższe po 3-tygodniowej fizjoterapii. Interleukina-8 w plwocinie spadła od 18,91 &#177; 25,2 do 9,69 &#177; 14,06 ng/ml (p = 0,0215). Największy spadek stężenia IL-8 dotyczył chorych z jej najwyższym wyjściowym stężeniem. Wnioski: Obniżenie stężenia IL-8 w indukowanej plwocinie po kompleksowej fizjoterapii chorych na POChP wskazuje na obniżenie aktywności neutrofilów, co może być jedną z przyczyn poprawy stanu klinicznego pacjentów. Pneumonol. Alergol. Pol. 2011; 79, 3: 184&#8211;188Background: Interleukin-8 (IL-8, CXCL8), chemokine produced by macrophages and epithelium cells, plays a major role in activating neutrophils and eosinophils in the airways of patients with COPD and might act as a stimulator of inflammatory process. The aim of the research was to assess whether pulmonary physiotherapy influences the concentration of IL-8 in the induced sputum of patients with COPD. Material and methods: The study included 44 patients (21 males, 23 females, average age 56.47 &#177; 9.52) with COPD treated in Physiotherapy Department of MSWiA Hospital in Glucholazy, with unchanged pharmacological treatment for the duration of the therapy. Before treatment, efficiency treadmill test by Bruce modified protocol and dyspnea assessment with the modified 20-point Borg scale was given to qualify each patient for physiotherapy. All patients participated in a 3-week multi-treatment pulmonary physiotherapy programme based on efficiency training on a cycloergometer. The physical workload was determined individually for each patient based on the assessment of individual exercise tolerance. Standard physiotherapy programme also included respiratory muscles&#8217; training with particular emphasis on training of abdominal muscles and diaphragm, inhalations with isotonic saline, drainage, chest clapping, relaxations and walking. IL-8 concentration in each patient&#8217;s induced sputum was collected prior to complex physiotherapy, and after it has been completed. IL-8 concentration was determined with the use of the ELISA test. Results: It was found that the concentration of IL-8 was significantly lower in patients with COPD after a 3-week physiotherapy programme. It fell from 18.91 &#177; 25.2 to 9.69 &#177; 14.06 ng/ml (p = 0.0215). The most significant IL-8 concentration decrease was observed in patients with the highest initial level of IL-8. Conclusions: The study shows that multi-treatment pulmonary physiotherapy causes decrease of IL-8 level in the induced sputum in patients with COPD, what can suggest decrease activity of neutrophils, which may be one of the factors leading to the improvement in patients&#8217; clinical condition. Pneumonol. Alergol. Pol. 2011; 79, 3: 184-18

The role of MMP-12 gene polymorphism - 82 A-to-G (rs2276109) in immunopathology of COPD in polish patients : a case control study

Table 1S. Logistic regression analysis of association between -82 A-to-G SNP of MMP12 gene (rs2276109) and COPD – the multiple inheritance models. Description of data: This table contains the logistic regression results of modeled association between SNP rs2276109 of MMP12 gene and COPD. (DOCX 16 kb

Decision-Making Time and Neuromuscular Coordination in Youth and Senior Soccer Goalkeepers

The aim of this study was to compare soccer goalkeepers’ decision-making times following a shot on goal and to determine goalkeepers’ movement pattern structures using EMG in a typical game situation (two-on-one). Two groups of goalkeepers (n = 60) took part in the study: Group A, the senior group (22.00 ± 2.35 years of age), and Group B, the youth group (15.38 ± 1.32 years of age). The goalkeepers’ decision-making times were measured by using EMG from the moment the attacker struck the ball until the completion of the saving action by the goalkeeper. Subsequently, the goalkeepers’ movement pattern structure was determined (for both Groups A and B), and the values of muscle bioelectrical tension during a typical defensive situation in training conditions were revealed. The findings clearly indicate a significantly (p = 0.001) shorter decision-making time in experienced goalkeepers (250–260 ms) than in novices (300–320 ms). In addition, the movement pattern structure confirmed the hypotheses on the economization of effort and the visual-muscular coordination of the postural muscles (calf muscles) that affect soccer goalkeepers. The study also demonstrated a lower bioelectric tension of the gastrocnemius muscle (GAS.MED. RT—p = 0.008; GAS.LAT. RT—p = 0.030) in the expert goalkeepers

Age-Related Impairment of Quality of Joint Motion in Vibroarthrographic Signal Analysis

Aging is associated with degenerative changes in articular surfaces leading to quantitative and qualitative impairment of joint motion. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate an age-related quality of the patellofemoral joint (PFJ) motion in the vibroarthrographic (VAG) signal analysis. Two hundred and twenty individuals were enrolled in this study and divided into five groups according to age. The VAG signals were collected during flexion/extension knee motion using an acceleration sensor and described using four parameters (VMS, P1, P2, and H). We observed that values of parameters VMS, P1, and P2 increase in accordance with the age, but H level decreases. The most significant differences were achieved between the youngest and the oldest participants’ groups. Moreover, we show that parameters VMS, P1, and P2 positively correlate with age, contrary to negatively associated H parameter. Our results suggest that the impairment of joint motion is a result of age-related osteoarticular degenerative changes

Clinical Factors and the Outcome of Treatment with Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Role of Rheumatoid Factor, Erosive Disease and High Level of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

To identify the clinical factors predicting the outcome of treatment with methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis, we examined 312 patients (253 females, 59 males) with rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. All patients included in this analysis began treatment with a regimen of oral MTX 7.5 mg weekly, with the dosage increasing to 15 mg weekly after 4 weeks, in combination with folic acid (1 mg daily). Good responders were defined as patients who had a DAS28 of ≤2.4 at 6 months (patients with remission of disease symptoms). Poor responders were defined as patients who had a DAS28 of >2.4. In this study, we analyzed the association between clinical parameters such as sex of patients, age of patients, age at disease onset, disease duration, rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies, ESR values, presence of joints erosions, presence of extra-articular manifestations and the response to MTX in RA patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed four independent factors significantly associated with good response to MTX treatment: older age at disease onset, low ESR, no erosive disease and negative RF. The results of our study suggest that a younger age at disease onset, the presence of RF, erosive disease, as well as a high level of ESR are associated with worse response to MTX therapy

GENES IN SPORT AND DOPING

Genes control biological processes such as muscle production of energy, mitochondria biogenesis, bone formation erythropoiesis, angiogenesis, vasodilation, neurogenesis, etc. DNA profiling for athletes reveals genetic variations that may be associated with endurance ability, muscle performance and power exercise, tendon susceptibility to injuries and psychological aptitude. Already, over 200 genes relating to physical performance have been identified by several research groups. Athletes’ genotyping is developing as a tool for the formulation of personalized training and nutritional programmes to optimize sport training as well as for the prediction of exercise-related injuries. On the other hand, development of molecular technology and gene therapy creates a risk of non-therapeutic use of cells, genes and genetic elements to improve athletic performance. Therefore, the World Anti-Doping Agency decided to include prohibition of gene doping within their World Anti-Doping Code in 2003. In this review article, we will provide a current overview of genes for use in athletes’ genotyping and gene doping possibilities, including their development and detection techniques